CO2 adsorption and reaction on Fe(111): An angle resolved photoemission (ARUPS) study

Molecular CO₂ adsorption is observed on an Fe(111) surface at 85 K. For the main fraction of molecules the relative binding energies of the valence ion states as determined by ARUPS are consistent with those in the gas as well as in the condensed phase, and indicate that the electronic structure of that fraction of adsorbed molecules is only slightly distorted upon adsorption. There is a fraction of adsorbed molecules at 85 K that can be identified as bent, anionic CO₂^? species. While the weakly adsorbed, linear CO₂ molecules desorb at low temperature, the CO₂^? species is stable up to 160–180 K. The latter is proposed to be a precursor to dissociation. Above this temperature adsorbed carbon monoxide and oxygen are observed on the surface, and at room temperature the CO₂^? signals have disappeared. Heating above room temperature dissociates the CO molecules into carbon and oxygen.